In playing piano duets or two-piano music, just being together is particularly challenging. The beginning of the sound of a note played on the piano is definite and sudden. What might pass for good ensemble playing in the performance of a piece for violin and piano (with the violin's characteristically less-instantaneous note-beginnings), will be unsatisfying in 2-piano playing. Pianists playing together become note-arrival authorities. As I was … [Read more...]
Preparedness
A part of preparing to perform music is a psychic readying -- we need to be prepared to accept very fine results. Perhaps this seems strange, since so much practicing of classical music focuses on avoiding mistakes? Our practice can prepare us to receive. Any sense that we don't deserve or are not entitled to extraordinary music making can impede it. Especially if time is short or preparation is scant, we may play less well than possible … [Read more...]